Sorting data is one of the most common tasks in spreadsheets. Whether you need to organize names alphabetically, arrange dates chronologically, or rank numbers from highest to lowest, Google Sheets makes it easy. This guide covers all the ways to sort data, including the powerful SORT function for dynamic results.
1Sort Alphabetically (A-Z or Z-A)
Alphabetical sorting organizes text from A to Z (ascending) or Z to A (descending). This is useful for lists of names, products, categories, and more.
Steps to Sort Alphabetically
- 1Click and drag to select your data, including column headers.
- 2Click Data in the top menu.
- 3Select Sort range → Advanced range sorting options.
- 4Check "Data has header row" if your first row contains column titles.
- 5In the Sort by dropdown, choose the column with text you want to sort.
- 6Select A → Z (ascending) or Z → A (descending).
- 7Click Sort.
Pro Tip: Right-click on a column header letter and select Sort sheet A → Z or Sort sheet Z → A to instantly sort the entire sheet by that column.
2Sort by Date
Sorting by date works the same way as alphabetical sorting. Google Sheets recognizes dates and sorts them chronologically.
| Sort Order | Result |
|---|---|
| A → Z | Oldest to newest (ascending) |
| Z → A | Newest to oldest (descending) |
Important: Dates must be formatted as actual dates (not text) for sorting to work correctly. If dates don't sort properly, select the column and go to Format → Number → Date.
3Sort Numbers (Ascending/Descending)
Numerical sorting arranges numbers from smallest to largest (ascending) or largest to smallest (descending).
| Sort Order | Result | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| A → Z | 1, 2, 3... (lowest to highest) | Rank from worst to best |
| Z → A | 100, 99, 98... (highest to lowest) | Top performers first |
The same A-Z/Z-A options work for numbers. Google Sheets automatically recognizes numerical values and sorts them accordingly.
4Sort by Multiple Columns
Multi-column sorting lets you apply layered sorting criteria. For example, sort by department first, then by name within each department.
Steps for Multi-Column Sorting
- 1Select your data range including all columns you want to sort.
- 2Go to Data → Sort range → Advanced range sorting options.
- 3Check "Data has header row".
- 4Choose your primary sort column and order (A-Z or Z-A).
- 5Click "Add another sort column".
- 6Choose your secondary sort column and order.
- 7Add more sort columns if needed, then click Sort.
The first column is the primary sort. Secondary columns only affect the order of rows that have the same value in the primary column.
5Use the SORT Function
The SORT function creates a dynamically sorted copy of your data without modifying the original. This is useful when you want to preserve the original order while displaying a sorted view.
// SORT Function Syntax
=SORT(range, sort_column, is_ascending)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| range | The data range to sort (e.g., A2:C100) |
| sort_column | Column number within range (1 = first column) |
| is_ascending | TRUE for A-Z, FALSE for Z-A |
Examples
=SORT(A2:C10, 1, TRUE)
Sort by first column, ascending (A-Z)
=SORT(A2:C10, 2, FALSE)
Sort by second column, descending (Z-A)
=SORT(A2:C10, 1, TRUE, 2, FALSE)
Sort by first column ascending, then second column descending
Pro Tip: The SORT function updates automatically when your source data changes. Place it in a separate area of your sheet to see the sorted results without affecting your original data.
6Sort a Specific Range
If you have multiple tables on one sheet, you can sort just one range without affecting the others.
- 1Select only the cells you want to sort (don't select the entire sheet).
- 2Go to Data → Sort range → Advanced range sorting options.
- 3Configure your sort options and click Sort.
Only the selected range will be sorted. Data outside the selection remains unchanged.
7Sort on Mobile
You can sort data in the Google Sheets mobile app on iPhone or Android.
Mobile Steps
- 1Open your spreadsheet in the Google Sheets app.
- 2Tap on the column header letter to select the column.
- 3Tap the column header again to open the menu.
- 4Select Sort A → Z or Sort Z → A.
Multi-column sorting is limited on mobile. For advanced sorting, use the desktop version.
8Troubleshooting
Dates not sorting correctly
Dates may be stored as text. Select the column, go to Format → Number → Date to convert them. Or use =DATEVALUE() to convert text to dates.
Header row gets sorted with data
Make sure to check "Data has header row" in the sorting options. Alternatively, freeze the first row via View → Freeze → 1 row before sorting.
Numbers sorting as text (1, 10, 2, 20...)
Numbers may be formatted as text. Select the column and go to Format → Number → Number to convert them to actual numbers.
Only part of my data sorted
Make sure you selected all the data you want to sort, including all related columns. If you only select one column, only that column's cells will be rearranged.